Clamping device for a surgical retractor

ABSTRACT

A clamping device for use in a surgical retractor support includes a first clamp member for clamping a first retractor support. The first clamp member has a first opening that is disposed along a longitudinal axis of the first retractor support for receiving the first retractor support. A pin disposed within the clamp member has a cam surface for acting on the first retractor support member. A handle operable with the pin for moving the cam surface between a first nonlocking position and a second locking position for locking the first retractor support member from movement. Preferably a wedge section is positioned between the cam surface and the first retractor support such that the wedge section frictionally engages the first retractor support when the cam surface is in the second locking position. The clamping device also has a second clamp member for clamping a second retractor support.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/048,616 filedMar. 26, 1998, abandoned which is a divisional of application Ser. No.08/541,689 filed Oct. 10, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,210.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a surgical retractor apparatus, andmore particularly, to a clamping device that supports a retractorapparatus over an operating table.

It is customary during major surgery, particularly on the chest orabdomen, to employ retractors. The retractors are applied to the edgesof a surgical incision and pull back the incision thereby exposing anarea within the body in which the surgeon must work. The retractor isheld in place, typically, by being attached to a retractor supportapparatus that is positioned over the operating table. The retractorsupport apparatus is usually attached to side rails located along thesides of the operating table by some type of clamping device.

In the past, many of the clamping devices on the side rails of theoperating table had to be positioned in a precise location. Theretractor support apparatus was then secured to the clamping device byvarious mechanisms to hold the retractor support apparatus in place overthe operating table. Since the side rails of the operating table are notsterile, a surgical drape was placed over the side rail by eithercutting slits into the surgical drape and extending a support to theretractor apparatus through the slits or simply readjusting the drapearound the support and over the clamp and the side rail.

Some of the short comings of the above-mentioned clamping devices arethat they do not allow the placement of the retractor apparatus to bevaried easily in the horizontal direction along the length of the bedunless slits are made in the surgical drape. However, introducing slitsinto the surgical drape, to allow the supports of the retractorapparatus to engage the clamping device presents a possible danger ofcontamination from the unsterile surfaces of the clamping device and theside rail through the slit. In addition, vertical adjustment to theretractor apparatus is difficult since often times the clamping deviceis beneath the drape.

Simply readjusting the surgical tape around the support member alsopresents a contamination problem. If the surgical drape is moved orshifts during the operation, the unsterile clamping device and part ofthe side rail may be exposed.

The following patents assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication illustrate various known clamping devices which are used tosupport surgical retractors on the side rails of operating tables:LeVahn et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,772; LeVahn U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,195;LeVahn U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,631; LeVahn et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,707;LeVahn et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,916; LeVahn et al. U.S. Pat. No.4,718,151; LeVahn U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,932; Gorham U.S. Pat. No.5,242,240, and Christian U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,338.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a clamping device for use in a surgicalretractor support. The clamping device includes a first clamp member forclamping a first retractor support member. The first clamp member has afirst opening along the longitudinal axis of the first retractor supportmember for receiving the first retractor support member. A pin disposedwithin the clamp member has a cam surface for acting on the firstretractor support member. A handle operable with the pin moves the camsurface between a first nonlocking position and a second lockingposition for locking the first retractor support member from movement ina vertical direction when the first retractor support member ispositioned in the first opening.

The clamping device preferably includes a second clamp member forclamping a second retractor support member. The second clamp memberincludes a first clamping leg extending from the first clamp member anda second clamping leg pivotally mounted to the first clamp member suchthat the first and second clamping legs are positioned to clamp a secondretractor support member therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a retractor apparatus with theclamping device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the clamping device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theclamping device.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the clamping device of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The clamping device of the present invention is generally indicated at10 in FIG. 1. The clamping device 10 is used to clamp a retractor (notshown) onto a retractor support 14 that extends over an operating table(not shown). The operating table is a typical operating table onto whichthe retractor support 14 may be mounted in any desirable or conventionalfashion. A typical operating table is illustrated in the LeVahn et al.U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,617,916 and 4,718,151, which are hereby incorporated byreference. It is to be understood that the clamping device 10 of thepresent invention may be used with most any type of retractor support14. Preferably, the clamping device 10 is used in combination with atable rail 16 on the operating table and the retractor support 14.

The retractor is employed during major surgery, particularly of thechest or abdomen, and is applied to tissue adjacent a surgical incisionto hold back such cut tissue. Holding back the cut tissue exposes anarea within the body for the surgeon to work. The clamping device 10 ofthe present invention permits movement of the retractor along aretractor support tube 15, which is part of the retractor support 14,generally, and the table rail 16, in a quick and efficient manner beforeor during surgery.

Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 2, the clamping device 10 includes a firstclamp member 20 for clamping the retractor support tube 15 and a secondclamp member 22 for clamping the table rail 16. The first clamp member20 includes a unitary main body 28, a wedge section 30 (illustrated inFIG. 2), and a cam operator 34 (illustrated in FIG. 2).

The unitary main body 28 is preferably machined from a single block ofstainless steel to include a head end 36, a tail end 38, first opening42, a recessed area 46 positioned on the outer periphery of the firstopening and extending outwardly therefrom, and a second opening 48. Thefirst opening 42 is machined along a longitudinal axis of the unitarymain body 28. The first opening 42 is generally cylindrical forreceiving the retractor support tube 15 therethrough. However, the sizeand shape of the first opening 42 may be varied to accept retractorsupport tubes of other configurations. The recessed area 46 receives ormates with the wedge section 30. The size and shape of the recessed area46 may be varied to mate with wedge sections of varying shapes. Thefirst opening 42 is sized sufficiently so that cammed movement of thewedge section 30 in the recessed area 46 frictionally clamps theretractor support tube 15 in the first opening 42.

The second opening 48 of the unitary main body 28 is arrangedsubstantially perpendicular to the first opening 42 for receiving thecam operator 34. The second opening 48 intersects a portion of the firstopening 42 so that a cam section 50 of the cam operator 34 is free tooperate with the wedge section 30. The cam operator 34 acts against thewedge section 30 to provide a frictional force to engage the wedgesection 30 with the retractor support tube 15.

As mentioned above, the wedge section 30 is positioned at theintersection of the first and second openings 42 and 48, in the recessedarea 46. The wedge section 30 preferably includes a concave surface 52,convex surface 54, and a recessed channel 56. The concave surface 52contacts the retractor support tube 15. The convex surface 54 engagesthe cam operator 34 and is on a side opposite to the concave surface 52and mates with a surface that defines the recessed area 46. A recessedchannel 56 is located on the convex surface 54 and is engaged by the camsection 50 of the cam operator 34. The recessed channel 56 provides anoperating area or surface for transferring the frictional force from thecam section 50 to the wedge section 30. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate thewedge section 30 in frictional engagement and non-engagement,respectively, with the retractor support tube 16.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the cam operator 34 includes the cam section50 (previously mentioned), a rod 60, and a lever handle 62. The rod 60is positioned in the second opening 48 of the unitary main body 28. Thecam section 50 is located generally centrally on the rod 60. The camsection 50 has a smaller diameter than the remainder of the rod 60 andan axis that is sufficiently offset from the primary axis of the rod toform a cam. The cam section 50 is positioned at the intersection of thefirst and second openings 42 and 48 so that the cam section 50 operateswith the recessed channel 56 of the wedge section 30. A lock washer orother fastening device (not shown) may be positioned at a distal end 70of the rod 60 for securing the free end of the rod 60 in the secondopening 48. However, the use of such a fastening device is not necessarysince engagement of the wedge section 30 with the cam section 50 issufficient to hold the rod 60 in place.

The lever handle 62 is attached to a proximal end 74 of the rod oppositeof the distal end 70 to form, in combination with the rod 60, an "L"shaped arrangement. The lever handle 62 is manually operated to providea turning force to the rod 60 for engaging the cam surface 50 with thewedge section 30. The cam action forces the wedge section 30 intofrictional engagement with the retractor support tube 15 for securingthe vertical position of the tube 15 thereof. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustratethe respective engagement and non-engagement positions of the wedgesection 30. Since the lever 62 need only be moved a short distance (nomore than 90 degrees, and typically only about 30 degrees or less), thepresent invention provides a quick and easy clamp for securing theretractor support tube 15. The size and position of the cam surface 50on the rod 60 determines the distance the lever 62 needs to be movedbetween engagement and non-engagement. The smaller the diameter of thecam section 50 with respect to the diameter of the rod 60, the greaterthe distance the lever 62 has to be moved and vice versa.

The second clamp member 22 includes an upper clamping leg 80, a lowerclamping leg 82, and a locking bolt 84. The upper clamping leg 80extends outwardly from and is preferably integrally formed with theunitary main body 28 of the first clamp member 20. The upper clampingleg 80 preferably extends across the main body 28 in a continuous lengthextending from a bottom edge portion 81 of the unitary main body 28. Theupper clamping leg 80 extends upwardly and outwardly from the bottomedge 81 of the unitary main body 28 at a angle of approximately 45degrees.

The lower clamping leg 82 is pivotally mounted to a top edge portion 83of the unitary main body 28. The upper and lower clamping legs 80 and 82are arranged in opposing relationship to frictionally clamp the tablerail 16 by pivotal movement of the lower clamping leg 82 towards theupper clamping leg 80. The lower clamping leg 82 includes a firstportion 88 on a first side of a pivot joint 90 for engaging the tablerail 16 and a second portion 92 on an opposite side of the pivot joint90. The first portion 88 is angled slightly towards the upper clampingleg 80 and is illustrated as having a continuous length along the widthof the main body 28. It is understood that while the upper and lowerclamping legs 80 and 82 are illustrated as continuous and smoothlengths, other engaging mechanisms such that pinch or have protrusionsmay be used. The second portion 92 is substantially "U-shaped" whereinthe open end of the "U" is closed by the first portion 88. The first andsecond portions 88 and 92 surround the retractor support tube 15. Thepivot joint 90, includes a pin or pair of pins 91 which are operablewithin openings 93A in the second portion 92 of lower clamping leg 82and corresponding openings 93b in an upper portion of the unitary mainbody 28.

The locking bolt 84 is disposed in a threaded opening 94 on the"U-shaped" portion 92 of the upper clamping leg 80 for engaging the tailend 38 of the unitary main body 28 to thereby pivot the lower clampingleg 82 about the pivot joint 90 and clamp the table rail 16 between theupper and lower clamping legs 80 and 82. To facilitate turning thelocking bolt 84, a handle 96 is pivotally attached to the locking boltby a pin 98. The handle 96 is pivotable about the pin 98 from one sideof the locking bolt 84 to the other side of the locking bolt 84 orapproximately 180 degrees to facilitate turning with the locking bolt84.

In use, the clamping device 10 of the present invention provides amechanism for clamping a retractor to a retractor support in a quick andefficient manner. To attach the clamping device 10 to a retractorsupport 14, a retractor support tube 15 is positioned in the firstopening 42 of the unitary main body 28 and the desired height selectedas illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. In order to position the retractorsupport tube 15 in the first opening 42, the lever handle 62 is moved sothat the cam surface 50 moves the wedge in minimal frictional contactwith the tube 15. When the retractor support tube 15 is moved to aselected position, the lever handle 62 is moved in a direction thatrotates the cam surface 50 in the recesses channel 52 pushing the wedgesection 30 into frictional engagement with the tube 15. As illustratedspecifically in FIG. 3, this frictional contact forces the wedge section30 into frictional engagement with the retractor support tube 15.

The upper and lower clamping legs 80 and 82 are loosely positionedaround the table rail 16. The handle 96 is used to turn the locking bolt84 through the threaded opening 94 of the upper clamping leg 82 untilsuch time as a bottom end of the locking bolt 84 contacts the tail end95 of the unitary main body 28. At this time, further turning of thehandle pivots the first portion 88 of the lower clamping leg 82 aroundthe pivot joint 90 so that the table rail 16 is engaged between theupper clamping leg 80, the lower clamping leg 82, and the head end 36 ofthe unitary main body 28.

In an alternative embodiment, a clamping device is generally indicatedat 100 in FIG. 5. It will be appreciated that the clamping devicegenerally indicated at 100 is an alternative embodiment to the main body28 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. The clamping device I 00 may beconfigured so that it is usable with the lower clamping leg 82 asillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. The clamping device 100 includes alower support post 102 and a clamping block 104. An upper post 106extends through a first clamping bore 108 within the block 104. A dog110 is disposed within a chamber 112 that is disposed transversely tothe bore 108 and communicates with the bore 108 such that the dog 110moves across the bore 108. The dog 110 includes a second clamping bore114 through which the upper post 106 also extends.

The clamping device 100 further includes a cam mechanism 116. The cammechanism 116 includes a handle section 118, a camming element 120 andcoaxially disposed cylindrical sections 122 and 124 with the cammingelement 116 positioned therebetween. The clamping block 104 includes acam bore 126 that is disposed transversely to the chamber 112 such thatwhen the camming device 116 is inserted into the cam bore 126, thecamming element 116 is positioned within the chamber 112.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the camming element 120 is positioned toengage the dog 110. When the handle 118 is turned, the camming mechanism116 is thereby turned. The cylindrical sections 122 and 124 rotatecoaxially within the bore 126 and position the camming element 120 toengage the dog 110. When the dog 110 is engaged by the camming element120, the dog 110 moves in the general direction indicated by arrow 128thereby moving the post 106 against the surfaces of the first clampingbore 108 frictionally clamping the upper post 106 and locking the post106 in a selected vertical position.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A clamping device for use in a surgical retractor supportwhich includes a retractor support member, the clamping devicecomprising:a clamp member for clamping the retractor support member, theclamp member having a first opening therethrough disposed along alongitudinal axis of the retractor support member for receiving theretractor support member; a pin disposed within the clamp member, thepin having a cam surface for maneuvering the retractor support member;and a handle operable with the pin for moving the cam surface between afirst position and a second locking position for locking the retractorsupport member from movement when the retractor support member ispositioned in the first opening.
 2. The clamping device of claim 1 andfurther including a chamber and a dog positioned within the chamber suchthat the cam surface of the pin acts on the dog moving the dog to lockthe retractor support member in a selected position.
 3. The clampingdevice of claim 2 wherein the dog includes a bore through which theretractor support member extends, and wherein when the dog is moved, theretractor support member is frictionally retained from movement.
 4. Aclamping device for use in a surgical retractor support which includes aretractor support member, the clamping device comprising:a clamp memberfor clamping the retractor support member, the clamp member having anopening therethrough disposed along a longitudinal axis of the retractorsupport member for receiving the retractor support member; a pindisposed within the clamp member, the pin having a cam surface forproviding a force to clamp the retractor support member; and a handleoperable with the pin for moving the cam surface between a firstposition and a second locking position for locking the retractor supportmember from movement when the retractor support member is positioned inthe opening.